Keyboard.



PATBNTED JULY 21, 1908.

A. H. P. scams.-

KEYBOARD.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 13,1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR.

' /\.H F School", BY

T/VITNESSES.

ATTORNEY 1i no. 894,167 PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.

A. H. F. SGHAAR.

KEYBOARD. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1s. 190e.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' WITNES5E$: -[N VENTOR.

BY JW A TTORN E Y6.

mm Films mc .Lmw mam own, 9 c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPH H. F. SOHAAIL OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES WIRELESS PRINTING TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPO- RATION OF WASHINGTON.

KEYB OARD;

ratented July 21', 1908.

Application filed July 13, 1906. Sea No. szaocs.

To all whom "it may concern:

' Be it knownthat I, ADoLrH I-I.,F. SCHAAR,

a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key- .boards, of which the following is a specificav tion.

In transmitting intelligence by electrical I0 impulses, as by inetallic or wireless telegraphy, it is desirable that the impulses be caused to make a visible record, referably by means of printed characters. In accomplishing this it is necessary that each trans- Initting station be provided with a keyboard for sending, and the receiving station or'station's with means for receiving and recording messages. a

The present invention relates to the keyboard of a transmitting instrument which 'is adapted to .be connected with a receiving instrument containing a recording device; so

that when anyone of the characters of. they key-board is actuated, as by depressing a key-lever, the corresponding character at the receiver will be imprinted, as upon a tape. The transmitting lnstrument may also be provided with recording devices for keeping copies of messages sent. The key-levers are so arranged that when any one of them is depressed an electrical circuit will be'closed and the lever will be locked until it is automatic ally released by the depression of a succeeding key-lever. A

The apparatus is simple and portable and may be provided with a suitable case or cover.

p The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention. -.,Figure 1, is a broken top plan of the keyboard; Fig.2, is aside elevation of the same case; Fig. ,3, a similar view without the'case," Figs. 4 an showing the ey-levers in two positions; Fig. 6, is a broken detail view of the locking hinge Fig. 7, is a detail view of the contact point at the end of the keyJevers; Fig. 8, is abroken detail ofthegonductor bar.

flit these drawi ngs 1 indicates the base which may beof any desired size and material. Pivotally mounted thereon, preferably by-means of rods 2, are key-levers 3, the

5, are sectional views forward end of each ofwhich is provided with a key 4 which preferably bears the character which it is desired to reproduce by the electrical impulse. The rods 2 are preferably seated in notches 5 in side pieces 6 upon the base, and the levers are properly spaced v and is adapted to be raised into engagement with the free end of one of a series of metallic.

fingers or contact points 14. The fingers are preferably flexible, and are all connected with a metallic bar 15 which is supported at its ends-by ears on the side pieces 6, but insulated therefrom by the bushing 16. Awire 17 from any suitable source of electricity, not shown, is connected with the end of the bar 15, and thereby provides the fingers with current when the circuit is closed through any one of them.

The free end ofeach lever, preferably below the extension 8, is inclined as shown at 18, so that it is adapted. to enga e with a lip .19 ona fiat bar or plate 20 whic I term the locking hinge, and which is pivotally mounted on point screws 21. These screws extend through ears 22 on thebase, and each end of the locking hinge is preferably extended andcurved to form a socket 23, within which is seated. a plug 24. This plug is provided with a hole in its end which forms a bearing for the pointed end of the screw 21.- The lowe edge of theplate 20 is also 1preferably flanged as shown at 25 to secure t e proper rigidity. When a key is de ressed the inclined portion of the free end 0 its lever engages with the lip 19', and thereby rocks the hinge 20 back against the tension of a spring 26 but as soon as the lever has passed above the lip 19,

the spring instantly rocks the hinge and throws the lip under the end of the lever, holding its free end elevated while its forward end is de ressed. As soon as another key is depresse the free end 18 of its lever rocks the hinge and throws the lip 19 from beneath the preceding key-lever, which is instantly retuned to its normal position by a spring 27 attached to an elbow 28 under the frame 1 the last lever referred to being locked in its elevated position by the return movement of the hin e as was the other one. The lip 19 is preferably beveled as shown at 29 to permit the locked key to start downwardly as soon as the hinge has been rocked to a very slight extent by the last key. The end 18 of each 1 key-lever is preferably slightly rounded upon its under side to assist in this movement. The rear end of each key-lever fits loosely in a notch 31 in a wall 30 on the base, and its forward end is adapted to strike a buffer 32 in order to limit its downward movement when depressed, without jar.

The s ac'ing on the distant machine is accomplis ed by a space-bar 33 on the transmitting key-board, which closes a circuit for that purpose the same as the other keys. The space bar 33 is pivoted at the forward ends of the side pieces 6 as shown at 33, and its free ends are inclined in the same manner as the free ends 18 of the key-levers 3, so that when the bar is depressed the hinge 20 will be rocked and the last key released and its circuit broken. This bar has one contact like those of the key-levers, which is not shown.

A case or cover is preferably provided for the machine, the rear ortion 34 of which extends over. the free en s of the levers and the contact points, and is permanently secured tothe' base by screws 35. The forward portion 36 is hinged to the rear portion as shown at 37, so that it can be swung up out of the way in order to give access to the keys. The swinging portion is provided with a handle 38, by means of which the entire apparatus can be easily carried.

At 40 is shown a stop key-lever which has no contact on its free end. Its purpose is to throwback the locking hinge 20 in order to permit the last key-lever actuated to return to its normal position. The efiect of the action just described is to stop1 any receiving mechanism connected with t e keyboard;

, because, as the stop key-lever has no contact,

and as the last key-lever actuated has returned to normal position and broken the circuit, no impulse is transmitted to the receiver.

' It will be seenfrom the above description that the key-board is very simple and compact, and that the different'parts'are so con structed and arranged that the electrical impulse for any desired character can be quickly transmitted by depressin the proper key. The locking hinge 20 ho ds the successive keys de oressed, and the stop key-lever 40 releases the last key to clear the machine. The cover can be placed over the keys temporarily for protection, or more permanently for transportation, thereby making a convenient structure in either case. I

I do not limit myself to the precise and; literal construction herein. described and ears or bearin 's, a plurality of e shown in the drawing, as I desire to avail my self of such modifications and equivalents as fall properly within the spirit of my invention.

-What I claim is-:-

1. In a keyboard, a plurality of pivoted transmitting key-levers each-having a contact oint at one end, a bar provided with a plura ity of contact points, one for each of the said levers, and means for closing an electrical circuit through either of said points when its key-lever is actuated, and means for locking said levers" when said circuits are so closed.

' 2. In a key board, a lurality of pivoted levers each provided wit a key at one end and an extension at the other, a contact point in each extension, a bar, a plurality of exible contact points extending therefrom in position to be engaged by the contact oints of the levers; said points and bar bemg adapted to form arts of an electrical circuit, and means for ocking said levers when said circuits are closed.

3. In a keyboard, a base, aplurality'of keylevers pivotally mounted thereon each provided with a key at one end and an extension at the other, an insulated contact point in each extension, a binding post connected with each point, an insulated bar mounted on the base above the levers and provided with a plurality of flexible contact points one for eac point in said extensions, and means for locking said levers with said points in contact.

4. In a keyboard, a base rovided with a notched wall and with a p urality of bearings, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted in said bearings and having theirv rear portions within said notches, a key on the forward end of each lever and an insulated contact point on the rear end of each.leve r,, a binding ost connected with each oint,, an insulate ,bar above said levers an secured upon the base, a plurality of flexible contact points extending from the bar in position to e engaged by the contact oints of the levers, means for locking the evers with said pointsincontact, and means for connecting a source of electricity with one end of said bar.

5. In a .key board, a perforated base provided with a notched wall and a plurality of the under si e of the base one for each perforation, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted with t eir rear portions within said bows uponnotches, a key on the forward end of each lever and an msulated contact point on the rear end, a binding post connected witheach point, a locking hinge pivotally mounted at its ends, a spring for causing the hinge to engage with said levers when their rear ends are elevated, a spring extending from each lover th'roughone of said perforations to one of the elbows for returning the lever to its normal fiolsition when it is released from the 7 locking ge, and an insulated metallic bar provided wlth means for connection with a souifce of electricit said bar being also pro- 5 vided with a plura ity of contact points each In presence ofadapted to be engaged by the contact point L. W. SEELY,

of one of the key-levers. l ALFRED COOPER.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles California this 13th day of June 1906. v

- ADOLPH H. F. SCHAAR. 

